noun / adjective
novelty
NAH-vul-tee/ˈnɑːvlti/
The quality of being new or unusual.
The folding chair's novelty attracts curious visitors to the unusual design.
Etymology
The pieces name the quality of being new or fresh. That newness also covers what departs from the familiar, connecting novelty with unusualness and originality.
In context
we devised what we called a "novelty hypothesis." So if you read the literature, it is well known that human attention is drawn to novelty, things that are new in the environment.
More examples
- Children enjoy the novelty of sleeping in a tent.
- The gift shop sells inexpensive novelties near the register.
- He wears novelty socks covered in tiny tacos.
Forms
novelty · novelties
novel adjective — New or different from what is usual.
Similar words
- newness
- Emphasizes being recent or unfamiliar, without necessarily being unusual.
- originality
- Emphasizes independent invention or creativity rather than mere unfamiliarity.